This was a beautiful film. It starts out strong, sensible, and reminds me of "To Kill A Mockingbird" in the way the community treats and regards the reclusive McLeod (Gibson).
Gibson in strong here. So is the young Nick Stahl. They really seem to make a connection on screen. The two actors pull off the teacher-student relationship wonderfully while their characters convincingly fall into a friendship that becomes reminiscent of a father-son relationship.
"The Man Without A Face", however, is not without its flaws. I just was never truly convinced that McLeod would not consider having his face repaired because he thought it "didn't seem right", as is the only explanation given in the movie as to why McLeod has dodged plastic surgery. Further more, sometimes I feel they are hitting the idea of "McLeod is scarred and ugly looking" too hard on the head. They make it seem too much of the reason why McLeod is socially hindered. If anything, it should be his suspected history of child molestation and withdrawn and bitter nature that causes more awkward moments than his scarring.
The story of Chuck, the young boy in the film, is more solid and believable. He lives with his mother and two half-sisters. All three kids come from different marriages and the mother is on her next husband. The sardonic and emotionality withdrawn Chuck refers to his new step-father as "The Hairball." Chuck is distant, emotionally neglected and verbally abused by his mother and sisters who have little empathy for other people.
It is only when McLeod and Chuck begin to really form a friendship that both of them become better people.
I personally found this film well done, heart warming while tragic, and flawed but a good watch. If you're interested in human relation movies and the whole social dynamics in families and communities bit, see it.
Gibson in strong here. So is the young Nick Stahl. They really seem to make a connection on screen. The two actors pull off the teacher-student relationship wonderfully while their characters convincingly fall into a friendship that becomes reminiscent of a father-son relationship.
"The Man Without A Face", however, is not without its flaws. I just was never truly convinced that McLeod would not consider having his face repaired because he thought it "didn't seem right", as is the only explanation given in the movie as to why McLeod has dodged plastic surgery. Further more, sometimes I feel they are hitting the idea of "McLeod is scarred and ugly looking" too hard on the head. They make it seem too much of the reason why McLeod is socially hindered. If anything, it should be his suspected history of child molestation and withdrawn and bitter nature that causes more awkward moments than his scarring.
The story of Chuck, the young boy in the film, is more solid and believable. He lives with his mother and two half-sisters. All three kids come from different marriages and the mother is on her next husband. The sardonic and emotionality withdrawn Chuck refers to his new step-father as "The Hairball." Chuck is distant, emotionally neglected and verbally abused by his mother and sisters who have little empathy for other people.
It is only when McLeod and Chuck begin to really form a friendship that both of them become better people.
I personally found this film well done, heart warming while tragic, and flawed but a good watch. If you're interested in human relation movies and the whole social dynamics in families and communities bit, see it.